Chapter 25 We still need to rely on the fire avoidance map.
Xiao Xun approached step by step, while Lin Yuan retreated step by step.
Until there was nowhere left to retreat, and his back was pressed against the corner of the wall.
Lin Yuan's face turned as red as a ripe peach.
A layer of fine downy hair swayed gently in Xiao Xun's breath.
She lowered her head, trying to find a crack in the ground to hide in, but she couldn't move at all.
Xiao Xun lifted her chin with his fingers: "Look up at me."
She was forced to meet his gaze.
Xiao Xun's attention was elsewhere.
His gaze, like a pen, traced her eyebrows, her eyelashes, and the tip of her nose.
If it were truly a pen, then her lips would probably be the most difficult to depict.
Their gaze lingered there for a long, long time.
Lin Yuan felt like she couldn't breathe.
A surge of heat coursed through my limbs and bones, flowing endlessly.
My chest felt hot all the way down to my ear tips.
The Empress had her deliver a food box containing ginseng soup to the Xuan Room, placed between the two of them.
It hurts every inch of it.
It was burning hot, inch by inch.
"Remember, do not send any more of the things Qu Yan or the Empress sent to the Xuan Room."
Xiao Xun stared at her and said, enunciating each word clearly, "Did you remember?"
"I...I've got it." Lin Yuan was a little breathless.
"When you return, what will you say when the Empress asks you about it?"
“Tell me, tell me… His Majesty used them all. His Majesty liked them very much.”
Xiao Xun's brows relaxed slightly, and he asked again, "What if I need you to deliver it again next time?"
"I, I... I won't see you off."
"What?" He pressed his fingers on Lin Yuan's chin harder.
In a moment of desperation, Lin Yuan said, "I'll secretly switch the things out, and replace them with things I made myself, okay?"
Xiao Xun glanced at her face from head to toe, pursed his lips, and squeezed out a simple "okay".
He let go of her.
Lin Yuan, clutching the empty food box, retreated from the Xuan Room in a flustered state.
Xiao Xun gazed at the Boshan stove in the corner of the wall, where wisps of smoke transformed into the steam of ginseng soup.
He picked up his pen.
One stroke after another.
On the silk, the blank face was quickly transformed into a man with finely shaped eyebrows, bright eyes, and cherry lips.
Finally, he painted a jade hairpin with dangling beads on his hair bun.
Lin Yuan had been helping out at her mother's stove since she was a child, though that was all she did.
My mother was incredibly capable, her cooking was delicious, and coupled with her strong personality, she was always the one who had the final say in the kitchen.
As a result, Lin Yuan had never actually cooked a single meal in all those years.
Moreover, while helping in the kitchen, she began to pick up a book and recite, "Only food and drink matter, no parental suffering is mentioned."
However, it shouldn't be difficult.
Although she couldn't handle things as skillfully as her mother, she was only adept at washing vegetables and starting a fire.
While chopping the chicken, I almost chopped my finger. When sprinkling salt, the tea-serving maid suddenly entered, causing my hand to tremble and spill a lot of salt. I hurriedly added water, which overflowed, almost flooding the stove and extinguishing the gentle fire the tea-serving maid was making.
The palace maid serving the tea was furious, but she only calmed down after Lin Yuan gave her most of a chicken and promised not to tell anyone about her hoarding of tea leaves.
Despite all the setbacks along the way, her mother is such a skilled cook, and as her daughter, she must have some talent for it.
Yes, I think so.
Otherwise, Xiao Xun wouldn't have pursed his lips, closed his eyes, and savored the ginseng chicken soup she brought to Xuan Shi Palace for so long after taking a sip.
He even politely asked, "Would you like to try some?"
Lin Yuan smiled shyly: "How could this servant possibly taste Your Majesty's food?"
Xiao Xun's Adam's apple bobbed slightly: "You've made it, but haven't even tasted a single bite?"
She obediently shook her head: "The ingredients sent by Eunuch Wang are too precious for this servant to taste."
Xiao Xun said gently, "It's nothing. It's nothing valuable. You can try it later."
During the meal, in the Yuhua Hall of the Huaiyang Prince's Mansion, Xiao Xun took a sip of soup and pursed his lips.
"I've always heard that Huaiyang is famous for its bamboo, lacquer, silk, cattails, millet, wheat, and also for its Sichuan peppercorns?"
When His Majesty asked about Sichuan pepper, the princess smiled and replied, "Although the climate of Huaiyang is humid, it is not as warm as that of Shu, so Sichuan pepper is not produced in large quantities."
"Oh." Xiao Xun nodded hesitantly.
The princess smiled and said, "However, there is a constant flow of merchants between the two places. Sichuan pepper has the effect of dispelling dampness and keeping warm, and it is especially popular in the cold winter."
Xiao Xun put down his jade chopsticks: "Your Highness is truly thoughtful."
He noticed that the princess was wearing even thicker makeup than yesterday, probably because he was uneasy and hadn't slept well last night because he had "lost something," and had personally arranged the meals early in the morning. Even with such thick makeup, the dark circles under her eyes couldn't be concealed.
So he stopped mentioning that while Sichuan peppercorns are good, using too many in a dish doesn't make it taste good.
Just like the first time Lin Yuan delivered that salty and bitter chicken soup to Xuan Shi Hall, one sip made his head ache.
But when he glanced down and saw a fresh, bright red mark on Lin Yuan's fingertip, he couldn't bear to say anything more.
He took a sip of tea, suppressing the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns on his tongue.
"In that case, let's send some to those who have suffered from the disaster. We sent pork yesterday, and today is New Year's Day, so let's send some pepper wine as a New Year's greeting, which will also help keep us warm."
The Prince of Huaiyang replied, “Your Majesty is benevolent and cares deeply for the disaster victims. I will immediately instruct the Chancellor to send pepper wine to the victims.”
Then, his gaze shifted, and he looked troubled: "But... uh, Your Majesty, the mansion was sealed off yesterday, and no one is allowed to leave, this..."
Xiao Xun scoffed: "Send the Minister of the Imperial Household's men to summon the Chancellor."
"Yes. I was confused. Your Majesty's people are free to come and go as they please." The Prince of Huaiyang nodded in agreement. "At dawn, I personally led the servants of the Prince's residence to search the entire garden, but I do not know what kind of treasure Your Majesty has lost?"
Xiao Xun paused for a moment, looked at Xiao Cheng, and said, "A handkerchief."
"Is it embroidered with gold thread? Or perhaps inlaid with pearls and jade?"
Xiao Cheng blurted it out.
He no longer cared about common sense. Even though he knew that pearls and jade were hard to swallow and gold thread was coarse, even someone as extravagant as himself wouldn't go so far as to inlay gold and jade on his handkerchief.
Sure enough, this earned him a look from Xiao Xun as if he were looking at a fool.
But apart from that, he couldn't imagine how a handkerchief could be considered a treasure.
Especially a treasure that might be stolen.
Xiao Cheng remained silent for a long time before asking, "Then, what kind of pattern is on it?"
*
Coiled dragon pattern.
Vermilion-lacquered gate.
The gilded tortoise-and-snake bronze ring reflected Lin Yuan's sullen face.
All the gates were tightly closed.
Even the Nuo opera performances held on New Year's Day in the streets and alleys couldn't get a single sound in.
He Ji quickly found out the news: "It is said that the distinguished guest lost something in the mansion and left it in the garden outside."
Li Ao and Wang Ao looked at each other, made an excuse, and walked away.
They got up at cockcrow today and picked up the feathers that the feather-wielding boy had dropped yesterday.
This large handful of feathers was blown by the wind and happened to land by the lake next to Tingquan Courtyard; they didn't deliberately go to the pavilion to look for them.
Otherwise, they would much rather have the row of gilded tree lanterns on the pavilion—if they could be moved without attracting too much attention.
However, the feathers also thrilled them greatly.
Under the cover of darkness and with no time to look closely, a fight broke out because one had more than the other.
In the end, one person got a bare feather shaft, and another grabbed a handful of down feathers.
One cursed softly, the other hurled insults loudly, like firecrackers setting off firecrackers, crackling and popping, sweeping away everything in their path, and lively and bustling as they ushered in the New Year at Tingquan Courtyard.
From the crowing of the rooster until dawn, they realized that the feathers shed by the pheasant were indeed no different from the feathers of the goose.
Even though Li Ao considered herself more knowledgeable and learned than Wang Ao, she was speechless and unable to remedy the situation.
Wang Ao was already hoarse from arguing, so she naturally stopped.
The two regained their rapport and reconciled, then began discussing whether to stew or roast the chicken for lunch.
They yawned in the same sleepy way, their eyes flashing with the same disappointment.
The nobles serving the emperor had to at least show their "nobility." Without gold and jewels, how could they appear noble?
Because it wasn't expensive, the crane-like elegance it had possessed last night was completely gone.
These scattered feathers were then reluctantly tossed into the freshly plucked chicken feathers.
Lin Yuan returned to Tingquan Courtyard and overheard the two old women arguing. She said softly, "Simmering it is fine."
Aunt Li wanted to ask one more question: "Does A-Yuan prefer mushroom stew or dried dates?"
He Ji interrupted her: "The Prince's Mansion sent some ginseng yesterday, didn't it? Let's stew this. It's warming and invigorating, and it also treats qi deficiency and cold stagnation."
He smiled at Lin Yuan, "It's perfect for eating in winter."
Li Ao glared at He Ji, then turned and walked away.
He Ji shouted loudly behind her, "Aunt Li, this stuff is also beneficial for back and leg injuries and weakness!"
Lin Yuan couldn't help but laugh.
"Grandma, let me help."
When Lin Yuan woke up this morning, she saw a bowl of hangover medicine that wasn't too cold on the table. She rubbed her throbbing head and couldn't remember what she had said or done last night.
It must have been embarrassing, or at least not very dignified.
She had seen Xiao Xun drunk. It was on the day he repeatedly told her, "Don't drink the soup, medicine, tea, or wine that the Empress sends."
He himself drank himself into a stupor. After becoming completely drunk, Jade Mountain collapsed…
Thinking of this, Lin Yuan gasped awkwardly.
If my elder brother sees this, then it's fine.
He had seen himself in all sorts of embarrassing situations.
The way he looked when his father beat him, the way he looked when his mother scolded him. The ugly way he looked when he got into a fight and his face was bruised and swollen, the silly way he looked when he stuck a weed in his hair as a hairpin, the stupid way he looked when he fell face-first into the mud on a rainy day.
Kagi is different.
She couldn't remember who she had seen through her drunken eyes last night.
However, the elder brother's door remained unopened until sunrise.
Through the door, he said he was so tired when he got home last night that he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Thinking this, Lin Yuan blushed and followed the two old women, running towards the kitchen.
Behind him, He Ji sullenly placed the several volumes of poems he had brought on the table.
He opened it listlessly, read two lines of "The peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful," and found it uninteresting. He then opened the "Suwen" and started reading the "Zhizhen Yaoda Lun," reading the sentence "When coldness prevails, treat it with pungent and hot remedies."
The sounds mingled with the chopping noises coming from the kitchen.
The aroma of ginseng stewed chicken slowly wafted out.
The two old ladies were both incredibly kind.
Wang Ao had long resented Li Ao for occupying such a lucrative position in the kitchen of the county and state academy, and thus vied to show off her culinary skills. Li Ao, in turn, was not to be outdone.
Once the meat was in the pot, Lin Yuan sat down by the warm fire, watching the two old women busily working, occasionally slipping a dried date or a dried bamboo shoot into her hand. Suddenly, her nose felt a little sore; she missed her mother.
In the kitchen where tea was prepared in the Jiaofang Palace, as she busily chopped chicken and stewed meat, her fingers bleeding profusely, she also missed her mother very much.
The mother would say with heartache, "How could you be so careless?" and then suck the wound for her before bandaging it with a handkerchief.
However, besides the pain, what she was more worried about at that time was that if she delayed for too long, Changyu would become suspicious and realize that she had switched the soup and lost the soup sent by the Grand Marshal's wife, which would be troublesome.
Now, she has an added layer of belated worry.
She had just learned from the old woman that ginseng stewed chicken wouldn't taste good unless it was stewed for at least two hours.
The best wild ginseng should not be used in large quantities; five or six thin slices are enough, otherwise it will cause nosebleeds.
She stuck out her tongue.
In order to prevent the tea-serving maid from seeing her ginseng, she put all three ginseng roots, each weighing seven or eight ounces, into the pot at once.
Thinking of this, her fingers involuntarily tightened around a silk handkerchief shaped like a phoenix.
"Come here."
Lin Yuan thought that Xiao Xun had been moved by the warm bowl of chicken soup and was so polite that he insisted that she go and try it, so she quickly waved her hand and said that she really didn't need to try it.
Because she refused so firmly, Xiao Xun once suspected that she might have deliberately made the soup bitter and astringent as revenge for what happened on New Year's Eve.
The only thing that can be proven is that she did it.
Qu Yan and the Empress's soup might contain some cold food powder, aphrodisiac powder, and a complete tonic, but it wouldn't kill him with a single sip.
He didn't say anything, but handed her a handkerchief.
Lin Yuan hesitated, then glanced at it briefly before squeezing out a sentence from his salty throat: "Your hand."
Lin Yuan then noticed that the cut on her fingertip had started bleeding again. It was probably because it was winter, and hands are prone to cracking. She had been clutching the food box tightly the whole way, worried the chicken soup would get cold.
The bronze gong is cold and hard, just like him when he's not smiling.
The handkerchief is very soft.
The lower right corner is embroidered with a phoenix using five-colored silk threads.
Lin Yuan grinned and said, "Actually, it's just a very small cut, Your Majesty, I'm fine."
Xiao Xun hung his head and rubbed his head, which was soaked in bitterness.
The silk scroll he had pressed under the book revealed an unfinished corner, revealing the delicate hand beneath the deep robe.
"Wrap it up. It'll dirty the floor of the Xuan Room."
Lin Yuan obediently wrapped her fingers up.
When the Minister of Ceremonies requested an audience, she took her leave.
Xiao Xun went to the clean room and poured out all the chicken soup from the bronze vessel and the chicken soup from his stomach.
Upon returning, he found the floor of Xuanshi Hall gleaming, quickly revealing Qu Qingchuan's figure.
Qu Qingchuan had only been in office as Minister of the Imperial Household for a few days when he sent his pleasure-seeking companions to the Imperial Guard.
The salary of the Minister of the Imperial Household was two thousand shi, but Qu Yang's family was strict and did not tolerate extravagance. For Qu Qingchuan, a frequent visitor to brothels, cockfighting, and dog racing, his annual salary was a drop in the ocean. He still had to rely on his friends to spend lavishly to help him when he went out.
The ranks of Yulin Chelangjiang, Hulangjiang, and Qilangjiang were equivalent to a thousand shi of grain.
However, they could be considered close ministers of the emperor, with respectable status, free access to the palace, and imposing presence, yet they did not actually need to go to the battlefield.
It is the perfect way to exchange gifts.
He certainly didn't dare show this list to his father, otherwise he would inevitably be scolded again, and might even be whipped.
A few years ago, just for harassing a married woman, I was stripped of my pants and whipped thirty times in front of more than a hundred servants by Qu Yang. Even now, thinking about it makes my buttocks ache and I feel ashamed and indignant. It has also diminished my marital bliss over the past few years.
Qu Yang refused to listen to his mother's reasonable explanation that the woman was seductive and had bewitched Chuan'er—although Chuan'er had pulled her into the room, she hadn't mentioned once that she was promised to someone else.
Qu Yang only stopped when his mother threw herself on top of him and took a whipping for him, drawing blood.
Therefore, Qu Qingchuan cleverly bypassed the Grand Marshal and went directly to the Emperor's presence.
Isn't the jade seal affixed by the Grand Marshal the same as the imperial seal affixed directly by His Majesty?
The Grand Marshal was extremely busy with state affairs. If he didn't tell his father, it would probably be a very long time before Qu Yang noticed that there were several more chariot officers and cavalry officers in the Imperial Guard.
Xiao Xun is much easier to deal with than Qu Yang.
From a young age, the puppet was gentle and kind; he would not refuse even the unpalatable kidney-tonifying and aphrodisiac soup his mother brought him.
The days when he visited the Empress were all in accordance with the wishes of the Grand Master of Ceremonies.
It is said that the Grand Master of Ceremonies, who was over sixty years old, was promoted from the position of Grand Historian, and had the ability to see ghosts.
Therefore, according to the calendar, every day is an auspicious time when yin and yang are in harmony.
Moreover, Qu Qingchuan had served as Xiao Xun's tutor in his youth and had shown Xiao Xun the fire-avoidance diagram.
— Xiao Xun's harem was in vain, with only Qu Qingru as his woman.
He knew his sister was virtuous, but from a man's perspective, a lady from a high-ranking family, while virtuous, was also uninteresting. She knew nothing of the pleasures of the bedroom.
If you drink too much of that soup and want to relieve the discomfort, you still need to rely on the "fire-avoiding remedy".
Xiao Xun nodded in acquiescence.
A few more names were added to that list.
Qu Qingchuan left happily, carrying an imperial edict stamped with the imperial seal and the words, "The soup the Empress sent was delicious; I've already finished it. I heard it was a delicacy painstakingly obtained by the Grand Marshal's wife. Thank you for your trouble." Xiao Xun frowned, staring at his imposing figure reflected on the floor.
"You like mopping the floor so much? How about we send you to Qu Qingchuan's mansion to mop the floor?"
Wang Lu knelt down in a panic and replied aggrievedly, "Your Majesty, this... this is what Lady Lin instructed. She said that she accidentally dirtied the floor, and Your Majesty was displeased, so she begged me to mop the floor as soon as possible."
Fang Jue's clear mind suddenly became chaotic again.
"Luan bird".
Xiao Xun said, "That is the handkerchief left by my mother."
Xiao Cheng withdrew the incredulous look he had just cast, closed his mouth, and fell silent.
There was a long silence in Yuhua Hall.
The princess, who always prided herself on being a good host, had no choice but to do her best to introduce Sichuan pepper from all aspects, including its origin, cultivation, and medicinal properties, in order to ease the awkwardness.
The silence in the hall grew even deeper.
When Prime Minister Cui Heng arrived, Xiao Cheng ordered him to bestow pepper wine upon the disaster victims. In addition, he bestowed two bolts of silk and a pot of wine upon the widows, orphans, and elderly people over sixty years of age in Huaiyang.
Having received his orders, Cui Heng also recounted the situation at Cuiwei Mountain to the Prince of Huaiyang, along with the Grand Master of Ceremonies and the Grand Master of the Imperial Stud who had come with the imperial insignia.
He stood in the hall and said loudly, "The people at the foot of Cuiwei Mountain are still singing today, 'The people are simple, their daily needs are food and drink. All the common people are grateful for your virtue.'"
Xiao Cheng broke out in a cold sweat and quickly said with a smile, "Heaven has protected you, and your safety is indeed very strong. The emperor's envoy has come here, and the disaster victims are expressing their gratitude for the emperor's virtue and the court's benevolence."
Xiao Xun said quietly, "The people of Cuiwei Mountain are quite learned. Yesterday I heard 'No Clothes,' and today they sang 'Heavenly Protection.'"
Cui Heng was unaware of Xiao Xun's identity.
Xiao Xun claimed that he was the cousin of the Prince of Huaiyang, the twenty-second son of the late emperor's younger brother, the Prince of Yuzhang, and that his given name was "Zhang". He had no official rank or title and had been traveling in Guandong. He had just arrived in Huaiyang.
The climate of Yuzhang Kingdom is warm and humid, and it has many evergreen trees throughout the four seasons.
The Prince of Yuzhang set an example by cultivating fine wine and beautiful women in the region, and his popularity remained undiminished. He had more than twenty sons who had reached adulthood.
If he were to meet Xiao Xun, he probably wouldn't be sure if he was his son unless he told him his name and compared him several times with the records in the Imperial Clan Court.
Meanwhile, the young concubines in the Prince's mansion continued to bear him children and add to his family.
Prime Minister Cui nodded slightly and explained, "Cuiwei Mountain was originally the site of the county and state's academy. Huaiyang State follows the imperial decree, respects teachers and values education, and all villagers over the age of eight receive an education. Therefore, the traditions of poetry, literature, rites, and music are so prevalent in Huaiyang State."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Cheng and Xiao Jin couldn't help but cough one after the other.
Cui Heng considered himself a balance between the imperial court and the vassal states.
For many years, his way of being an official was to be opportunistic and flattering, without compromising his conscience.
For example, he immediately understood the two men's implication from their intermittent coughing.
So he straightened his clothes, cleared his throat, and said, “Xiao Jin has just begun to show his talent, and his political achievements are remarkable, winning the hearts of the people.”
This inevitably involves flattery, but he also emphasized that Xiao Jinru is teachable and has been influenced by Master Lin's friendships, which shows that he has not lost his conscience.
“The Crown Prince often associates with the Master. This is truly a case of ‘friending the upright, the forgiving, and the knowledgeable is beneficial.’”
Xiao Xun twitched his lips and glanced at Xiao Jin: "Making friends and traveling together? The teachers in the county and state academies are quite young."
The prime minister smiled and nodded: "Just past twenty, a promising young talent indeed."
Xiao Xun frowned almost imperceptibly, then turned to Xiao Jin, who had her head buried in her teacup: "The Prince of Huaiyang's residence is a place where hidden talents abound. Jin'er, you should take your uncle to meet him."
Before Xiao Jin could even lift his head from his teacup, Xiao Cheng quickly waved his hand and chuckled, "We're just kids playing around."
Cui Heng felt that although his words sounded like flattery, they did not violate his conscience.
He witnessed firsthand how Lin Yu, four days earlier, had swiftly quelled a popular uprising at the foot of Cuiwei Mountain with his own wisdom, and he was filled with admiration and gratitude.
Without changing his expression, he turned to Xiao Xun, who was sitting facing south, and said with a smile, "Young Master Xiao is also young and handsome, and enjoys socializing. He must feel an instant connection with a talented man like Master Lin."
Cui Heng had already discerned from the seating arrangement that this member of the Xiao clan, who claimed to have no official rank or title, possessed an extraordinary bearing and must be highly regarded and favored by the Prince of Huaiyang. Therefore, he subtly and without exaggeration flattered him, while also echoing the Prince of Huaiyang's self-deprecating remark.
That was enough. He stood to one side, hands in his sleeves, smiling contentedly.
Xiao Xun smiled and said, "The Prime Minister is absolutely right."
When news came that a distinguished guest was coming to Tingquan Temple, Aunt Li almost spilled a pot of freshly cooked chicken soup.
She asked hesitantly: "It's not Feathered Man, is it?"
The reply Wang Ao gave was negative: "Definitely not."
She shakily stepped onto a rock and craned her neck to look: there were no feathers on the clothes.
Aunt Li fell silent, but did not feel any relief.
Why was Wang Ao's voice trembling?
The feathers of the Feathered Boy fell to the ground last night, and they picked up most of them.
And those feathers were mixed in with the damp chicken feathers. To make matters worse, they were now lying on the kitchen floor.
The chickens in the Prince's mansion ate millet and drank mountain spring water. Their feathers were long and glossy. I was planning to take advantage of the good sunshine to dry them and make a feather duster.
The thought of our distinguished guest losing something important and searching everywhere for it filled me with worry.
And so, we've found our way to Tingquan Temple.
At this moment, Aunt Li's heart was more agitated than a pile of chicken feathers.
“Aunt Li, first your waist and legs are weak, then your hands and feet tremble. These are signs of a serious stroke, and you must not ignore them.”
He Ji couldn't help but lean forward and whisper.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan, fearing that the ginseng chicken soup she had been simmering for two hours would spill, quickly took it.
Li Ao didn't even have the energy or inclination to glare at Master He.
He Ji was still nagging in my ear: "If you're not careful, you'll soon experience blurred vision."
Li Ao ignored him and saw a figure in a blue robe coming from under the corridor in front. As the figure drew closer, the robe shimmered with silver thread embroidery resembling clouds.
Closer and closer, the hazy cloud-embroidered pattern suddenly transformed into the shape of feathers in her eyes.
"...incoherent speech."
Old Lady Li gasped for breath: "This concubine, this concubine—see—"
"...lost his mind."
As the distinguished guest approached, Li Ao's heart leaped into her throat, pounding wildly, her thoughts and soul soaring to the heavens.
She hurriedly performed the ritual, but accidentally twisted her waist. She grimaced and muttered curses at He Ji.
Who gave He Ji the right to curse her?
Wang Ao, who had been extremely nervous, breathed a sigh of relief.
She had decided that if Aunt Li offended the distinguished guest because of this, she would say that she had gone mad from the fright during the snow disaster.
Who would care about the poor girl who was frightened by the snow? Even if she picked up the feather from the feather-wielding boy and threw it away with the chicken feather.
Xiao Xun walked very fast, leaving Xiao Jin behind.
In the distance, behind two men and two burly women, a slender figure could be seen, surrounded by a layer of mist.
Closer and closer, the mist transformed into steam from a soup pot. As people bowed and made offerings, it spread wider and wider, making everything before our eyes even more hazy.
"You, you..."
The face emerged from the misty steam, and Xiao Xun suddenly didn't know how to speak.
One glance, and I was lost in a dream.
He lost his mind.
-----------------------
Author's note: This is real food.
From Lin, the reincarnation of Iowa, the Great Chef of the Han Dynasty, who can kill with a single bite.
Li Shun (placing a piece of Sichuan peppercorn in His Majesty's bowl): Dear readers, do you remember in Chapter 4 I happily drank the chicken soup cooked by Lin Yuan? His Majesty said that her cooking skills were comparable to those of the Imperial Kitchen! Our Majesty's sense of taste must be a bit off.
Haha, the reason why the female lead didn't taste the chicken soup herself after cooking, showing a lack of basic professionalism, will be explained in Chapter 27.
Because I'll be on the new book list tomorrow (Thursday), the update will be delayed until 11 PM. Please forgive me!
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